South Florida Crime

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A 15-year-old girl who was wounded along with two other girls in a drive-by shooting Tuesday in Liberty City says she thought “my life was gone” when she heard the gunfire.

“I was afraid. I was an innocent bystander and I feel like I am afraid to be over here,” said “Shawnteria,” in an exclusive interview with CBS4’s Peter D’Oench.

She did not want to show all of her face or give her last name but the 8th grader told D’Oench that she wanted to speak out.

“I just remember them shooting at us and we were running,” she said.

“When that happened, what were you thinking?” asked D’Oench.

“I was thinking that my life was gone,” said “Shawnteria,” adding she had no idea what spawned the shooting.

“I was also thinking about my little sisters and how they were out there playing,” she said. “I feel sorry for them and the little one who got shot while walking and playing and stuff.”

“The bullet went four centimeters deep in my left wrist,” she said, showing the white bandage wrapped around it. “My hand hurts and it is swollen and it may be scarred for life.”

“I feel like this is dead wrong what they did. This was dead wrong,” she said. “This makes no sense. “I don’t know why they were shooting at us. I just want to say this was so wrong and they should stop this to fire in to a crowd of children playing and this should be stopped.’

“Shawnteria” said she did not see the shooter. She hopes someone will call police or Crimestoppers with a tip.

“I don’t want this to ever happen again,” she said. “I feel bad for my mom and my sisters. I need to move out. These projects are not safe.”

Ten-year-old Delshaureah Wright was shot in the right arm and transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital, along with 18-year-old Jacqueline Powell. Powell’s mother says her daughter was shot four times in the neck, face and arm. Powell has been released from the hospital.

Shawnteria’s mother was making arrangements late Thursday afternoon to find a new place to live.

She and her six children had been living near the shooting that took place at NW 13th Court and 66th St.

Powell’s mother said the shooting stemmed from a dispute that was going on with another girl.

No arrests have been made. Police are not sure of the make and model of the shooter’s car.

CBS4’s news partner “The Miami Herald” reported that the three girls were wounded by a 17-year-old friend who got into an argument with one of them and “returned for vengeance.”

Miami Police Manuel Orosa told the newspaper, “It’s a fight between two older girls, one left and came back. We think we know her. We’re not sure if it was over a boy. The “Herald” reported that police were certain that a second person, a male, was driving the car and said detectives were “fairly certain” they’ve identified the shooter.

Anyone with information on this case is urged to call Miami Police or Miami-Dade Crimestoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (8477).